The Story Of How I, A Gloomy Guy, Ended Up Surrounded By the Top-Tier Beautiful Girls In Class After A Seat Change - Chapter 53-54

Chapter 53:

After school, for the cultural festival preparations, the three of us, me, Airi, and Yuria, left the high school to gather cardboard boxes.

We checked the school’s resource storage before leaving, but unfortunately, there were no cardboard boxes left. They had all been taken by other classes.

(For the cultural festival, every class needs cardboard boxes the most… Everyone seems to be thinking the same thing.)

“It looks like there are none left. Did the seniors take them all?”

“Maybe. Let’s try negotiating at a nearby supermarket or something. Let’s go, Ryota, Airi.”

“Yeah.”

“O-Okay…”

Since I couldn’t help much with negotiations, I decided to focus on carrying the boxes.

When it comes to collecting cardboard boxes, negotiating with stores is absolutely necessary, as taking them without permission is not allowed.

Before leaving the high school, Yuria mentioned that during last year’s cultural festival, there were groups who took cardboard boxes without permission from an unmanned recycling center nearby, causing a big issue.

So, the rules had become stricter, and proper negotiation was essential. Airi and Yuria were much better at communication than me, so I didn’t need to worry.

However, that meant I had to work hard as a man to carry the boxes.

But, I was undoubtedly weak.

Still, I wanted to do my part…

“Ryota, you don’t have to push yourself just because you’re the only guy. Even if you get a lot, I’ll help you carry them,” Yuria said, showing concern despite her tough demeanor.

It seemed like Yuria could see through my thoughts.

It was embarrassing that she could see through my facade, but at the same time, I admired how perceptive she was.

“Ryota, not just Yuria, but Airi can carry a lot too, right? Because I always work part-ti—”

“W-Wait!”

Airi accidentally mentioned her part-time job, so I quickly interjected with a “Wait.”

She realized her mistake and covered her mouth with both hands.

“Huh? Ryota, why did you suddenly raise your voice?”

Yuria asked, tilting her head.

“Uh, um, well!”

Oh no, oh no, oh no.

The situation I feared the most had already happened!

I immediately looked at Airi.

She apologized with her eyes, realizing her slip-up.

I had to think fast and cover it up somehow.

“Umm, Airi, if it’s too heavy, feel free to say so! I’ll help you carry them!”

I desperately blurted out, trying to divert attention.

I glanced at Yuria to gauge her reaction…

“Ryota, what’s wrong?”

Oh no… I’ve been found out!

“Hey, why are you only being nice to Airi? I said I would help too, so you could at least thank me as well.”

“Uh, um, yeah. Thanks, Yuria… I mean, Ichinose.”

“Well, I’ll let it slide this time.”

It seemed Yuria was more bothered by me constantly supporting Airi than by Airi’s slip of the tongue.

Phew… at least I wasn’t caught…

(Phew…)

I breathed a sigh of relief at that moment.

“Also, not just Airi, but I often rearrange the room, organize my discs, and regularly move my favorite shelf, so I’m confident in my strength!”

“Discs? Favorite shelf? What are those, Yuria?”

“Oh!”

I slipped up by underestimating Yuria.

(What are these guys doing?! They’re exposing everything!)

Hey, there’s no room for carelessness!

—

Chapter 54:

Yuria almost revealed her otaku secret due to her slip of the tongue.

“Um, um…”

Yuria frantically tried to come up with excuses while spinning her eyes around.

Unusually flustered, I felt I had to cover for her.

“Miyama? The term ‘saucer’ refers to a general term for music CDs, and ‘push shelf’ is, well… I think it refers to shelves that you push or pull?”

Although I realized it was quite a strained excuse, I said it to cover for Yuria.

“Wow! Yuria, I didn’t know that. Ryota knows a lot, huh!”

“Eh? Ah, yeah.”

Miyama completely believed in what I said.

It felt like taking advantage of Miyama’s trust in me, and I felt a tremendous sense of guilt.

If I had said this to Miyama Rui, it would have definitely been exposed, including my panicked way of speaking.

“But Yuria, you didn’t seem interested in idols or K-pop singers, so it’s surprising, right? Whose CD is it?”

“Um…”

Yuria fidgeted with her hands in an uncertain manner.

(Usually, she’s a confident gal, so it’s unexpected to see her like this…)

Since we usually got along well as a trio, I wondered if something had distracted her.

Anyway, I searched for something to divert the conversation to help Yuria.

Huh? Is that…?

“Hey, Miyama! How about some ice cream? I’ll treat you.”

I pointed to the ice cream chain ‘Thirteen Plus One’ we passed by.

“Really!? Ryota, you’re treating me!?”

“I’ll treat you, I’ll treat you!”

“I want a triple scoop! Is that okay?”

Miyama eagerly approached me like a dog to its owner with food.

Her ample bosom repeatedly bumped into me, almost making me stumble.

It felt like a collision during martial arts practice.

“O-Okay, okay. I’ll buy your favorite…”

“Yay! Ryota is so generous~”

“Sigh…”

Well, if ice cream can get us through this situation, it’s a small price to pay.

I should consider it as a fair trade-off for the collision with the ample bosom.

The cardboard collection mission was completely interrupted, and Miyama rushed into the store to choose her ice cream.

Yuria and I followed, and for some reason, we stopped in front of the red bean flavor.

“Ryota, that…”

Yuria glanced apologetically at me.

“It’s okay, no need to apologize—”

“I also want ice cream.”

“Huh?”

Yuria ordered a red bean single scoop.

Meanwhile, Miyama seemed to be struggling with her choice, so Yuria and I sat at a table inside the store to wait for her.

“Ryota… thanks for covering earlier. And for the ice cream.”

Sitting across from me, Yuria licked her red bean ice cream apologetically.

It’s a bit… well, quite erotic to see Yuria sticking out her tongue like that.

“Hey, Ryota? Were you thinking something weird just now?”

“Cough… No. Yuria, if I hadn’t covered for Miyama, you would’ve almost revealed your secret, right? Why are you making slip-ups today?”

“That’s because! Well, Ryota, you kept praising Airi and grinning while staring at her chest… It irritated me.”

“I wasn’t staring at her chest! …Well, I can’t say for sure, but why does that bother you, Yuria?”

“I don’t know why, but it just does!”

Just because… does that mean she couldn’t maintain her usual composure because I was there?

Blaming me? Is that it?

“…Anyway, sorry, Ryota. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Saying that, Yuria finished her ice cream and stood up.

“I’ll go wash my hands real quick. You two can relax here with Airi.”

“O-Okay.”

As Yuria headed to the restroom, Miyama appeared and beckoned me over.

“Ryota, Ryota~ I’ve decided what to get!”

“Oh, okay.”

Miyama had ordered a popping candy triple scoop ice cream and started eating it happily once I bought it for her.

“Mmm, I love this popping candy~”

She seemed to forget everything that happened earlier while eating.

Alright… wait.

I had been so focused on Yuria that I forgot the main point…

“Hey, Miyama. Didn’t you almost mention ‘part-time job’ in front of Ichinose earlier?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry about that? Airi, Ryota was next to me, so it just slipped out.”

“Because I was there? Did you almost blurt it out by accident?”

“Yeah! So sorry about that?”

Miyama made popping sounds with her mouth every time she spoke.

In a way… I couldn’t help but think Miyama was just being herself. In various ways.

“Oh, right! Ryota, want some popping candy ice cream too?”

“Huh?”

“If you really want some ice cream, should I treat you? Ryota?”

When did Yuria come back and appear behind me?

A sense of déjà vu from when she stopped the indirect kiss before.

Yuria was smiling, but her determination to not allow an indirect kiss with Miyama was clear.

“Haha… just kidding.”

“Eh? Well, if Ryota says so, Airi will eat it all.”

I declined to avoid provoking Yuria further, as it seemed things could get out of hand if I touched a nerve.